Before Christ you were dead in your sin, but now you are alive with Christ. Allow being “alive with Christ” to fully captivate you. Strong’s Dictionary says “alive” means “to reanimate conjointly.” In other words, Christ is right there with you bringing life to your walk with Him. As I pondered this phrase, I realized that Christ’s work on the cross was not only meant for salvation, but for me to also experience the vibrancy of Christ in my daily walk with Him. Several passages of Scripture describe a vibrant life with Christ, but Galatians 5:22-23 captures it best: “The Spirit produces love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” (ESV) Last week we learned that just as truth is your plumb line for living in Christ, so the fruit of the Spirit is your plumb line for having a vibrant life with Christ. The more I meditated on this verse, the more excited I became over what my relationship with Christ produces in me. 

   The thing that humans desire and long for is the satisfaction described in the fruit of the Spirit. Those seeking this satisfaction do not realize that money, drugs, alcohol, sex, relationships, and things they seek from the world are the very things that prevent the love, joy, peace, etc. found in the fruit of the Spirit. All these efforts are like pouring sand through a funnel. Little sticks, but what remains is the emptiness you started with. God’s question for them is, “Will you continue to seek satisfaction through the world or do you want what truly satisfies?”  John 6:27 gives the path to the satisfaction that comes from living with Christ: “Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you.” (NIV)  To be fully alive with Christ, you must make Him first by answering the question of Lordship, “Am I going to make Jesus and His kingdom first, or am I going to settle for 2^nd best?” Let God’s love, mercy, and grace fill your hearts; only then can you be fully alive with Christ. 

John 4:13-14 “Jesus answered, ‘Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.’” (NIV)

 MORE SCRIPTURES ARE LISTED BELOW TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO LIVE IN THE VIBRANCY OF CHRIST IN YOUR DAILY WALK… 

LIVING IN THE VIBRANCY OF CHRIST 

Colossians 3:12-13 “Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another.  Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” (NIV) 

Ephesians 4:2-3 “Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.  Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” (NIV) 

Ephesians 5:8b-10a “Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord.” (NIV) 

James 3:17-18 “But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.” (NIV) 

2 Peter 1:5-8 “For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (NIV) 

Romans 12:9-21 “Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love.  Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another.  Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position.  Do not be conceited. Do not repay anyone evil for evil.  Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: ‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay,’ says the Lord. On the contrary:  If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” (NIV)

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Here are some Bible studies from Growing in Christ to help your transformative experience: “Deeper with God” and “Transportation 1.”